Stephen John Chubb

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Stephen John Chubb, a partner acting in a series of property transactions, was found to have created and caused reliance on a backdated Declaration of Trust submitted to HM Land Registry (dishonesty found on allegations 1.1 and 1.2), failed to disclose he acted for both lessor and lessee, submitted Certificates of Title with inaccurate purchase price information (omitting £1 lease premiums), and failed to notify lenders that mortgage proceeds would discharge a pre-existing mortgage. Dishonesty was not found on allegations 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5, which were characterised as muddle and lack of integrity. All allegations were proved. The Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £22,424.55.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No conflict between current clients
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty involving deliberate and planned creation of a backdated Declaration of Trust
• Serious harm to the reputation of the profession
• Not an isolated incident - misconduct spanned April to July 2007 with continuing breaches of disclosure obligations
• Very experienced senior solicitor who knew or ought to have known the conduct breached his obligations

Mitigating factors:

• Single transaction in an otherwise unblemished 40-year career
• No client money taken and no personal benefit derived
• Cooperated with his firm, insurers and the SRA
• Frank about lack of oversight and made admissions in interview
• Showed remorse
• Positive testimonials from character references and current employers
• Significant financial and personal impact already suffered